Eric Sledge enjoys Signing Day notoriety

Mark McLeod

02/02/2005

Apopka's Eric Sledge had a tremendous experience
making friends today. The 6-2, 195-pound wide receiver
had better get used to it. Exposure takes on a whole
new meaning at his new school, the University of
Florida.

"I just don't know what to say about today," Sledge
exclaimed. "Words can't describe it. We signed at 9:30
in the library. There were television cameras in
there. The media were all over the place. It was
insane."

"Then, I must have made 200 new friends at school
today. Everybody was congratulating me and patting me
on the back. I'm usually a low key guy. I don't get
crazy for all of that attention. But this was great.
Everybody was just so happy. Happy like me!"

Eric Sledge (rated three stars by Scout.com) is one of
Urban Meyer's shooting stars. He can play both offense
and defense. Sledge committed to the Gators a couple
of weeks ago and made good on his promise to sign with
the University of Florida after rejecting an earlier
commitment to play at South Carolina.

"Coach Meyer called me this morning," said Sledge. "He
wanted to make sure that everything was okay and that
I was ready. After I signed and faxed it (LOI) in,
Coach Strong called and congratulated me. I'm just so
happy. I just can't wait to get up there. I am ready
to go now."

Like most of the recruiting class, Sledge will be
coming in for the Summer B sesssion. He isn't quite
sure who he'll room with, but he'll be making a call
in the very near future to David Nelson (Wichita
Falls, TX) to see what he is thinking regarding
possible roommates.